Folding table



S. M. SWENSSON FOLDING TABLE Filed Aug. 2'7, 1934 0 9 "64 5 flfl m 7 6 m m m A 5 3 m m a 1+ 2 0 2 m n 9 wmw m a J H Z 5 M 2 m ATTORNEY 5WENM 5WEN$$OIV mvszvron Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 2'7,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables, and it has for its object providing a folding table that can be cheaply made, that will be rigid when in use, and that will fold up very conveniently into a comparatively small space. Another object is to provide such a table that may be adjusted in various ways. Further objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and the following description thereon.

Of the drawing, Fig. l is an elevation of a table which embodies some of the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a locking device of the table of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is an edge view of the device; Fig. 4; illustrates modified means for elevating the tables, and Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same; Figs. 6 and '7 are side and rear elevations of a furthermodification; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 25--25 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 shows the table of Fig. 6 completely closed.

In Fig. l I have illustrated a table which consists of a top board or leaf 40, a base board ll a standard 42 and a support is. These various members are pivoted together in such a manner that they may be folded together. The support 413 is pivoted to the standard 42 by means of blocks 31 and pins 38. The blocks are fixed to the standard in any suitable manner. This allows the support to be rotated on a vertical axis until it lies flatly against the standard. The leaf 40 is pivoted to the block 31, so that when the support is rotated against the standard the leaf may be lowered vertically against the support 43. Also the base board H is pivoted to the lower block 31 by the pin 50 so that when the support is rotated against the standard the base board can be rotated upwardly to a vertical position against the leaf 40 when it is lowered. The lower pin 50 is positioned farther from the standard than the upper pin 50, so that the base board folded upwardly lies outside of the leaf 40. In this manner the table may be completely folded so that it may be packed away or transported far more conveniently than when opened. Feet 53, preferably of rubber, may be used if desired.

It is sometimes desirable to lock or bind the support of the table in its supporting position. For this purpose I provide a U-shaped slotted plate 45, which is fixed to the under side of the leaf, or to the upper side of the base board. The slot d6 of the plate is adapted to receive a pin 41 fixed to the support arm, and thus to hold the two members firmly together, a rd also to prevent rotation of the support in one direction, These 1934, Serial No. 741,634

locking means may be applied to any of the table or desk modifications which are illustrated herein.

Also the table of Fig. 5 may be used with the support 43 rotated out of the way against the 5 standard, and the standard may then be tilted forward around the hinge 50, if desired. The operator may then when seated allow the outer edge of the leaf to rest on his lap with the standard and leaf inclined as much as may be 10 desired. Also feet 53 may be applied.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I illustrate means to elevate the table. These consist of legs which are pivotally connected with the base board 9| by means of blocks 92. The legs are pivoted to the blocks in grooves 93, and the rear ends of the grooves hold the legs in their supporting positions. When not in use the legs fold up against the base board out of the way.

Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate a further modification, in which the single standard of the other tables is replaced by a standard frame comprising two legs I05 spaced apart and connected at the ends by boards I06 and I01. The top I08 is pivoted to the board I06 by means of hinges I2I. The base comprises a triangular shaped frame consisting of boards I09 and the connecting boards IIO, III and H2. This base frame is pivoted to the standard board I01 by means of hinges H3. The support comprises a frame consisting of two uprights I I4 the ends of which are connected by pieces H5. The support frame is pivoted to the boards I06 and I01, preferably by means of dowel pins II! and H8. Wedge-shaped blocks H9 and I20 are normally positioned between the outer ends of the pieces H5 and the top board and the base board IIO.

As there is necessarily some loose play with pivoted or hinged members of this nature, I provide means to take up loose play1 and thus to stiffen the table when it is open for use. These means are the wedge-shaped blocks H9 and I20 which are fixed respectively to the leaf I08 and the base board I09. When the supports are rotated outwardly between the leaf and the base board, the blocks tend to force the leaf and the base board away from the support. In this manner the entire table is held firmly. However, these wedging pieces may be omitted if desired, as the weight of the leaf is ordinarily sufficient 50 to hold it in place, and other binding means may be used if desired.

When folded,.the base IDS is positioned between the standard and the top; and the support is turned in between the legs I05 of the standard. 55

Although I have indicated this and the other tables as being made mainly of wood, yet it is to be understood that the material of which the various pieces are made is not a necessary part 5 of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding table, comprising a standard, a top and a bottom board, and a support mounted on one side of the standard; a hinge with a 10 horizontal axis connecting each of the boards with the standard, and a hinge with a vertical axis connecting the support with the standard, the support being positioned normally between the two boards and extending substantially from 15 one to the other, one of the hinge axes being spaced from the standard farther than the other.

2. A folding table as claimed in claim 1 and a wedge-shaped member normally mounted between the support and the adjacent surface of 20 one of the boards.

43. A folding table as claimed in claim 1, and

means associated with the support for increasingly pressing apart the portions of the board outside of the hinges as the support is rotated to normal supporting position.

4. A folding table as claimed in claim 1 and means for binding together the adjacent surfaces of one of the boards and the support, said means comprising a plate having a slot therein fixed to one of the members to be bound together and the other member having .a pin with a head on projecting from the member, the pin arranged to pass into the slot when the members are folded together.

'5. A table as claimed in claim 1, in which the ,said standard comprises two uprights spaced apart and positioned respectively at two adjacent corners of the 'top board and the base board, and boards connecting the respective upper and lower ends of the uprights.

SWEN M. SWENSSON. 

